AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) - Redshirt junior forward Kori Locksley scored the golden goal in the 93rd minute for the
Auburn Tigers (3-1-2) to win 1-0 against LSU (0-5-2).
Alyssa Malonson in the midfield won the ball and crossed it into the six-yard box where Locksley was in front of the net to finish it off.
“Alyssa took a great touch to beat the defender,” Locksley said of the game-winning play. “The defender was really high up on her line and didn’t have any cover. It was two-v-one, me and Hailey. I thought Hailey was going to get it and so I had to take a couple steps back and just get over the ball and put it in the net.”
That was Locksley’s first goal of the season and that marked her second game-winning goal of her career here at Auburn.
“It was a really tough two-game road trip,” Karen Hoppa head coach said. “I thought we had a really good performance at Arkansas, didn’t get the result we wanted, but to see our team rebound today, play some really good soccer and keep the shutout for over 90 minutes before scoring the goal in overtime. I’m really proud of our team.”
As Locksley took advantage of the goal-scoring opportunity, the Auburn back line did its part as they came out with the third shutout in six games this season.
“We’ve been working really hard and just kind of molded into the three back to make it work,” Craven said of the defensive effort. “It was tough in the beginning, but we got it sorted out. We just worked hard to find the forwards and they got it done.”
This marked the Lady Tigers 11th straight result vs. LSU, and they haven’t allowed a goal since 2016.
The win against LSU is Auburn’s 300th in program history and guarantees a first-round bye in the upcoming SEC Tournament.
“This was huge,” Locksley said. “A goal of ours is get that bye on Friday the 13th and we accomplished that. We’re just really happy to get a win.”
Auburn’s back line led by captains M.E. Craven and Sarah Houchin showed strong one-v-one defending through the game. Freshman goalkeeper Maddie Prohaska made two saves in the final seven minutes of the game.
In the final 28 minutes of the game Auburn played with a man up after LSU received a red card, the Lady Tigers turned up the intensity in the opening minutes of overtime to get the golden goal.
Auburn had five out of its seven attempts on frame. Eighteen players got playing time in the team’s fourth overtime game of the season.
The Auburn Tigers will host rival Alabama (1-4-2) in the Iron Bowl of Soccer Friday, Nov.6 at 6 p.m. CT.
